The companies aim to identify further possible uses for AM in medical technology and to establish this manufacturing method permanently in the medical sector. According to EOS and Ruetschi, the AM method allows manufacturers of medical products to have a high-quality, extremely flexible manufacturing method at their disposal, which enables them to break new ground in product development and manufacture completely new components, products and solutions. The advantage for major suppliers of medical technology products is that Ruetschi Technology not only takes over part production using laser-sintering for them, but can provide extensive and competent support throughout the application development process from design through to finishing treatment and sterilisation.
“Ruetschi Technology and EOS are well matched,” said Dr Adrian Keppler, managing director at EOS. “Ruetschi's core competence is the development and production of technically sophisticated, high-quality micromechanical products for medical technology.”
Christoph Ruetschi, CEO at Ruetschi Technology AG, said: “With EOS we have found a partner with long years of experience in the field of additive manufacturing, system and material development who offers a pioneering technology solution which is heralding a change in paradigms in engineering, design and manufacturing." According to Ruetschi , AM opens up new opportunities for design engineers in the medical branch who have so far only used subtractive, conventional methods and are increasingly coming up against feasibility limits. The technology can also supplement traditional manufacturing methods such as turning, milling and injection moulding.
